Free On-Demand ASCD Webinar with Debbie Zacarian, Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz, and Judie Haynes

Duration:  1 hour

Summary

Half of U.S. students come to school having experienced or still experiencing some type of trauma, violence, or chronic stress. This startling statistic presents a challenge to all educators, especially because very little professional literature focuses on teaching this population and doing so from a strengths-based perspective. Instead of looking at what is missing from the lives of these students and their families, the presenters will focus on the assets they bring and how to create a strengths-based classroom learning environment that extends to families and communities.

Based on the upcoming ASCD book Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence, and Chronic Stress, this engaging webinar will address the following questions:

• What’s the urgent call for using a strengths-based approach with students and families living with trauma, violence, and chronic stress?
• How can we identify and cultivate our professional strengths and our students’ and families’ strengths?
• What strengths-based instructional and family engagement practices and tools are crucial for working with students and families living with trauma, violence, and chronic stress?

The presenters will provide examples and guide participants in using practical strategies that will transform their classrooms and schools into safe, supportive, productive, and positive places where all individuals can see their many strengths and unlimited potential.